Hot In-Place Asphalt Recycling for Small Repairs on Airfields in Remote Settings

Abstract

This paper presents results from an evaluation of Hot In-Place Recycling (HIR) techniques for conducting small repairs of aged asphalt concrete (AC) pavements on airfields in remote locations. The evaluation included both laboratory and field testing. In the laboratory, four different types of rejuvenators were evaluated using the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA) test and the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) test to investigate the use of rejuvenators to soften aged binder obtained from a reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) material. The use of small quantities of Type I portland cement during the mix rejuvenation cycle was also explored. Optimum dosage rates for the four types of rejuvenators tested were developed, and the best performing rejuvenator-dosage rate combination was selected to use for field trials. A series of full-scale repairs were conducted using HIR technology, rejuvenators, cement, and two RAP materials. The performance of the repairs was evaluated under simulated F-15E aircraft traffic. All repairs met the objective of 3,500 passes of F-15E aircraft, and the extracted binder from the repairs showed signs of rejuvenation, which could result in longer lasting repairs.